St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-11-26
GEN. GIBSQN'S ADDRESS
At the Nichols Mass Meeting at Farm
eryille, Union Parish, La,
Nov >, 1887.

Nov. ), 1887.
At the Nichols meeting In Farmeryille,
Union parish, Nov. 5, Mr.. j. A. Ramsey, the
chairman. said in presenting United States
Senator T.. l.. Gibson:
az present to you man who was with our
people from 1861 To 1865; who led the boys in
gray in battle ana on the march, and who,
though leader, had d sym pathetic heart Ill
his bosom and Wonld dlsmOunt from his
horse to ningle with his men, foOtsore and
weary from the long march. [ present a
man who has not been stranger to you
since the war, but has represented you in
the highest position in tho union, president
and vice president excepted-Chat Of a United
States senator; man with whom you are
well acquainted through the efforts he has
III AIDE In behalf OF the state and people of
Louisiana In the lower house OF congress and
the senate of the United States. That man
Is Senator K. l.. Gibson"
After the applause %nlch greeted his APP
ptarance had subsidized.
General Gibson Said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Fellow Demo
Gratis of Union Parlsh--l mad the pleasure
some eight years ago, in common with many
distinguished Democrats, TO Visit the parish
OF Union for the first time, and to address
the Democracy Of this parish on that occa-
sion. Many changes nave taken place IN
the last eight years. One OF these changes,
go far as | am personally concerned and so
tar as you are politically concerned, has
been my election TO be one OF your repre-
sentaulves in the senate OF the United States.
But that il a merely Individual matter in
one sense and bears scarcely any sort of re-
lation to another and more momentOus
change, involving not the fortunes
OF any particular individual, but
revolution IN the political conditlons OF the
people of the United States-a revolution
that brought bat k into the executive power
of the government the representatives Of
that old party which found It's principles and
its aspirations III The genius OF Thomas JET
ferson; Its energy and hero1sm in the rugged
honesty of Andrew jackson. We find THAT
party revived again in the peraOn OF Grover
Cleveland. the first Democratic president
we have nad since the days OF James Blu
chanan. This, fellow citizens, was
A TRANSPORTATION OF MoMENTOUs IMPoR-
TANCE,
not only to the people OF Louisiana, but to
the people of the United States.
Have you ever thought OF how important
to the peace and welfare OF the people OF our
state was the triumph OF the national De-
mOcracy? | do not allude TO those general
Issues and questions which involve The in
terests of the people OF the whole country,
but 20 the peculiar conditions that exist IN
southern society. You know as we'll as 10
that among the northern people 1t IL more
question OF taxation which determines
whether the Republican or the Democratic
party should be retained in power. You
know as well as I do that with the northern
people it is d question whether the people
shall retain the power IN their hands or
whether corporations and monopoles shall
exercise exclusive privileges over the peo-
pie; that Is, whether corporate power IN lis
various FORMS associated wealth, which
some political philosophers declare IS the
dynasty that rules modern natlons-snOuld
claim and possess all the public lands and
determine the price OF the products OF the
soil, the value OF property, and control by
combinations the occupations OF the people.
You are aware that to-day these
CORPORATIONS AND MONOPOL1Es
exercise a greater power over the people
than the government itself. A few men
may collect in New York city and determine
the price OF food in that city, or the price of
leather or cloth. ETC., for, felloW-cltlzens,
you must have observed for yourselves that
the great problems, the production, dlstrlbu-
ton and consumption OF wealth, are the
three principal elements with which the
people are confronted and that the d1srrlbu-
ulon OF wealth-rhat ls the transportation OF
your products-has come to be almost as
important as the creation Of those products
These are some OF the Ques-
lions that concern Jhe people OF the north
and 1t Is because the Democratic party SYM
pathIZes with personal liberty and STANDS up
for the Individual Is agalnsu corporations;
il ia because the Democratic party sym
pathizee with every movement for home
rule-With suffering Ireland as sShe appears
before tie world pleading for
THE HOME RULE
for which the southern people struggled so
long and SO heroleatly after the downfall OF
the conrederacy-thatt the Democratic party
las taken such hold upon the hearts OF
the people. But Gles more binding than
those unite US to the national Democracy.
You know and I know that the very peace
of society in our midst depends, In great
measure, upon the national Democratic
party. suppose to-day that there was Re.
publican party animated by the spirit OF
Sherman, or Foraker, or other leaders OF
that party-anlmaLed by their bitter pref
udices and sentiments OF hostility TO the
people-suppose the Republican
party under the leadership OF these men
had power in " darlington to-day. do you not
know lust as we'll as [ do that that power
might % exercised In this state TO build up
d party that would disturb the quiet and re
pose OF society in louisiana DO you not
know there are in our state yet the EN- bers
of that passion and prejudice that gave US
so much concern anu trouble until FRANCIS
T. Nichols was elected to the governorshlp
You know these passions
ARE SLEEPING, But NOT DEAD;
that If the Republicans were in power at
Washington, through their agents IN every
parish Of this state, by offering patronage
aud emoluments, and by suovertlng popu-
lar rights they might lead to disturbance
Of the conculu and peace that prevail to-day.
Why it is the knowledge that the people OF
the north Can trust the southern men In nigh
office and the Democratic party under the
lie leadership OF Grover Cleveland. surrounded
by such men as Bayard, Lamar and Gar
la nd honored sons of the south; 1t Is the
very knowledge which the northern people
have to-day that under control OF the Demo-
cratic party the country may prosper that
M
soutnern channels, and northern men to
come TO the south.
These are matters of immense Importance
to our people, which rise above merely
local questions of politics. We need the con-
ridence of our fellow counrrymen all over the
land. We should
INSPIRE THE NORTHERN PEOPLE
with the conviction that our people are what
they are in reality-sober, industrious, God
fearing, good people among Wnom they can
come and live in peace, where they can
bring their families and money and where
their lives and property will be secure.
These are the considerations to which de-
sire to invite your attention. 1t 1s the fact
outside OF sentiment and the great principles
upon which 1t is founded that the Demo
cratic party being In power ana sonthern
men being in high office under that party,
and showing to the country that the south
ern people and their leaders are true to the
flag that waves over US, showing TO
the people of this country ana oil the world,
that the honor of that flag and the credit Of
our people are as dear to them rs to the
northern people-that fact benefits you more
materially than any one thing connected
with public affairs that you can possibly
imagine. I would be the last man to sac
ritce principle or to make unmanly conces-
slous even for material advantage. / would
yield to the northern people nothing woald
not demand from them.
Now, fellow citizens, while this is true l
must say l have heard with regret some OF
the leading men of this state declare before
the people thai the question to-day In
Louisiana was race issue.
A RACE ISSUE.
Why, that is not the question In louisiana
to-day. That issue is buried in the past-lt
was settled many long years ago-you know
it.
Look into the faces of those colOred men
OF this parish who stand around this as
semblage to-day and ask yourselves ii you
can trust them? Have they mot become